Château de Thorens — Hotel in Annecy

During our vacation in France this September, my husband and I accidentally stumbled upon the beautiful Château de Thorens. The weather wasn't the best, paragliding out of the question and swimming in the Lac was nice, but a bit chilly...even for norwegians. We were looking for something else. Something exeptional. And we most definately found it! From the first glimpse of the castle though the trees by the narrow road, to the moment we had to leave, it was pure magic. A warm welcome, an utterly stunning bedroom, a lovely dinner in the evening. Thank you so much, de Sales family and the rest of the team! You have given us memories to last a lifetime! Would I recommend a night at the Château de Thorens? Yes yes yes indeed! We might have been exeptionally lucky to visit in the off-season and on a weeknight, so we had the whole castle and dinner in the evening all to ourselves, but even with more guests staying over, I imagine the tranquility and good atmosphere will be just the same! So once again..thank you so much for a wonderful experience all of you at the Château de Thorens! We will most definately be back! And thank you Annie, for giving us the most romantic dinner in France ever! We'll never forget your candle-lit île flottante!!...

the apartment we stayed in (appartement de la Tour) was spotlessly clean, very spacious and well equiped. The bedding is a dream, and after a 8hr drive from the South it was great to relax in this completely quiet place. The castle is gorgeous, and the room had been renovated very tastefully (adequate antique furniture with modern appliances). One of the best things was the food that was being served. It was freshly prepared (we had a four course menu) and served very artfully. The produce is local, nothing is processed, and most is made directly at the chateau, even the cheeses are ripened in their own cellars. It is a family castle and we were welcomed by a family member. We learned about the history of the chateau and the region. The service is outstanding! Also the breakfast next day was spectacular, with homemade yoghurt, fruitsalad and jams, and ovenfresh (and still warm!) croissant and famous "pain au chocolat". If you want to escape from the hectic and stressful everydaylife, but still want to experience great food and comfortable and spacious rooms, this quiet historic place might just be the right...

Staying at the exquisite Chateau de Thorens is a once in a lifetime experience and a memory my family and I will treasure. It’s not a typical hotel experience; it’s more like being welcomed to stay at a friend’s chateau, one that just happens to be out of a fairytale. If you’re looking for a pampering spa hotel, don’t come here. If you want a lovely, friendly welcome where the hosts want you to enjoy the tranquility, the peace, the loveliness, then this is for you. Definitely have dinner at the chateau! We ended up meeting another couple and having a four hour dinner with so many courses that I lost count (each one delicious) and Geoffrey stayed until midnight, thrilled that we were enjoying the castle. I practiced French with the count and wandered the woods. Honestly, it was perfect. If you’re open to a unique and lovely stay in the countryside, not too far from Annecy, definitely stay here! Even our 17 year old daughter loved it (and if you know teens, that’s high...